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Lead levels in soil exceeded state standards in Eaton Fire burn zone, LA County reports
One theory for why lead levels may have been higher in Altadena, seen here, is that many homes there were built when lead paint was still common.
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Jae C. Hong
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Associated Press
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Topline:
The L.A. County Department of Public Health released the final findings from soil sample testing in and around the Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones. The data confirmed levels of lead and other contaminants were higher than the state’s thresholds, but that “there is no evidence of widespread contamination from fire-related chemicals,” according to a news release from the department.
The context: California’s state standards for residential properties say lead levels should not exceed 80 parts per million. The federal EPA’s standard is 200 parts per million.
The findings: Of the samples taken on lots cleared of debris in the Eaton Fire area, 20% had concentrations of lead above 80 parts per million. In homes that survived, 38% of samples had lead above those levels. The average amount of lead ranged from 80.2 parts per million to 167 parts per million. In the Palisades burn zone, the results did not find any large-scale fire-related soil impacts for lead or other chemicals.
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Why the difference? Experts say it’s unclear how much of the contamination existed before the fires and that Altadena likely saw higher levels because the housing stock was older, with 70% of homes built before 1979, when lead-based housing materials such as paint was far more common.
The full study: Find the full results of the study here. The report emphasizes that the concentrations of dangerous contaminants can vary greatly by property and that “soil impacts assessment and management should be part of any rebuilding plan.” The report was produced for the county by Roux Associates of Long Beach, an environmental consultancy.
Go deeper: Testing finds high lead levels in Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones
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